our village-第27部分
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summer migration； and are cropping the ivy berries） add their low cooings； the very note of love； to the slight fluttering of the falling leaves in the quiet air； giving a voice to the sunshine and the beauty。 This coppice is a place to live and die in。 But we must go。 And how fine is the ascent which leads us again into the world； past those cottages hidden as in a pit； and by that hanging orchard and that rough heathy bank！ The scenery in this one spot has a wildness； an abruptness of rise and fall； rare in any part of England； rare above all in this rich and lovely but monotonous county。 It is Switzerland in miniature。
And now we cross the hill to pay a morning visit to the family at the great house；another fine place； commanding another fine sweep of country。 The park； studded with old trees； and sinking gently into a valley； rich in wood and water； is in the best style of ornamental landscape； though more according to the common routine of gentlemen's seats than the singularly original place which we have just left。 There is； however； one distinctive beauty in the grounds of the great house；the magnificent firs which shade the terraces and surround the sweep； giving out in summer odours really Sabaean； and now in this low autumn sun producing an effect almost magical； as the huge red trunks； garlanded with ivy； stand out from the deep shadows like an army of giants。 IndoorsOh I must not take my readers indoors； or we shall never get away！ Indoors the sunshine is brighter still； for there； in a lofty； lightsome room； sat a damsel fair and arch and piquante； one whom Titian or Velasquez should be born again to paint； leaning over an instrument* as sparkling and fanciful as herself； singing pretty French romances； and Scottish Jacobite songs； and all sorts of graceful and airy drolleries picked up I know not wherean English improvisatrice！ a gayer Annot Lyle！ whilst her sister； of a higher order of beauty； and with an earnest kindness in her smile that deepens its power； lends to the piano； as her father to the violin； an expression； a sensibility； a spirit； an eloquence almost superhumanalmost divine！ Oh to hear these two instruments accompanying my dear companion （I forgot to say that she is a singer worthy to be so accompanied） in Haydn's exquisite canzonet； 〃She never told her love；〃to hear her voice； with all its power； its sweetness； its gush of sound； so sustained and assisted by modulations that rivalled its intensity of expression； to hear at once such poetry； such music； such execution； is a pleasure never to be forgotten； or mixed with meaner things。 I seem to hear it still。
As in the bursting spring time o'er the eye Of one who haunts the fields fair visions creep Beneath the closed lids （afore dull sleep Dims the quick fancy） of sweet flowers that lie On grassy banks； oxlip of orient dye； And palest primrose and blue violet； All in their fresh and dewy beauty set； Pictured within the sense； and will not fly： So in mine ear resounds and lives again One mingled melody；a voice； a pair Of instruments most voice…like！ Of the air Rather than of the earth seems that high strain； A spirit's song； and worthy of the train That soothed old Prospero with music rare。
*The dital harp。
HANNAH BINT。
The Shaw； leading to Hannah Bint's habitation； is； as I perhaps have said before； a very pretty mixture of wood and coppice； that is to say； a tract of thirty or forty acres covered with fine growing timberash； and oak； and elm； very regularly planted； and interspersed here and there with large patches of underwood； hazel； maple； birch； holly； and hawthorn； woven into almost impenetrable thickets by long wreaths of the bramble； the briony； and the brier…rose； or by the pliant and twisting garlands of the wild honeysuckle。 In other parts； the Shaw is quite clear of its bosky undergrowth； and clothed only with large beds of feathery fern； or carpets of flowers； primroses； orchises； cowslips； ground…ivy； crane's…bill； cotton…grass； Solomon's seal； and forget…me…not； crowded together with a profusion and brilliancy of colour； such as I have rarely seen equalled even in a garden。 Here the wild hyacinth really enamels the ground with its fresh and lovely purple； there；
'On aged roots； with bright green mosses clad； Dwells the wood…sorrel； with its bright thin leaves Heart…shaped and triply folded； and its root Creeping like beaded coral； whilst around Flourish the copse's pride； anemones； With rays like golden studs on ivory laid Most delicate； but touch'd with purple clouds； Fit crown for April's fair but changeful brow。'
The variety is much greater than I have enumerated； for the ground is so unequal； now swelling in gentle ascents； now dimpling into dells and hollows； and the soil so different in different parts； that the sylvan Flora is unusually extensive and complete。
The season is； however； now too late for this floweriness； and except the tufted woodbines； which have continued in bloom during the whole of this lovely autumn； and some lingering garlands of the purple wild vetch； wreathing round the thickets； and uniting with the ruddy leaves of the bramble； and the pale festoons of the briony； there is little to call one's attention from the grander beauties of the treesthe sycamore； its broad leaves already spottedthe oak； heavy with acornsand the delicate shining rind of the weeping birch； 'the lady of the woods；' thrown out in strong relief from a background of holly and hawthorn； each studded with coral berries； and backed with old beeches； beginning to assume the rich tawny hue which makes them perhaps the most picturesque of autumnal trees； as the transparent freshness of their young foliage is undoubtedly the choicest ornament of the forest in spring。
A sudden turn round one of these magnificent beeches brings us to the boundary of the Shaw； and leaning upon a rude gate； we look over an open space of about ten acres of ground； still more varied and broken than that which we have passed； and surrounded on all sides by thick woodland。 As a piece of colour； nothing can be well finer。 The ruddy glow of the heath…flower； contrasting； on the one hand； with the golden…blossomed furzeon the other； with a patch of buck…wheat； of which the bloom is not past； although the grain be ripening； the beautiful buck…wheat； whose transparent leaves and stalks are so brightly tinged with vermilion； while the delicate pink…white of the flower； a paler persicaria； has a feathery fall； at once so rich and so graceful； and a fresh and reviving odour； like that of birch trees in the dew of a May evening。 The bank that surmounts this attempt at cultivation is crowned with the late foxglove and the stately mullein； the pasture of which so great a part of the waste consists； looks as green as an emerald； a clear pond； with the bright sky reflected in it； lets light into the picture； the white cottage of the keeper peeps from the opposite coppice； and the vine…covered dwelling of Hannah Bint rises from amidst the pretty garden； which lies bathed in the sunshine around it。
The living and moving accessories are all in keeping with the cheerfulness and repose of the landscape。 Hannah's cow grazing quietly beside the keeper's pony； a brace of fat pointer puppies holding amicable intercourse with a litter of young pigs； ducks； geese； cocks； hens； and chickens scattered over the turf； Hannah herself sallying forth from the cottage…door； with her milk…bucket in her hand； and her little brother following with the milking…stool。
My friend； Hannah Bint； is by no means an ordinary person。 Her father； Jack Bint （for in all his life he never arrived at the dignity of being called John； indeed in our parts he was commonly known by the cognomen of London Jack）； was a drover of high repute in his profession。 No man； between Salisbury Plain and Smithfield； was thought to conduct a flock of sheep so skilfully through all the difficulties of lanes and commons； streets and high…roads； as Jack Bint； aided by Jack Bint's famous dog； Watch； for Watch's rough； honest face； black； with a little white about the muzzle； and one white ear； was as well known at fairs and markets as his master's equally honest and weather…beaten visage。 Lucky was the dealer that could secure their services； Watch being renowned for keeping a flock together better than any shepherd's dog on the roadJack； for delivering them more punctually； and in better condition。 No man had a more thorough knowledge of the proper night stations； where good feed might be procured for his charge； and good liquor for Watch and himself； Watch； like other sheep dogs； being accustomed to live chiefly on bread and beer。 His master； though not averse to a pot of good double X； preferred gin； and they who plod slowly along； through wet and weary ways； in frost and in fog； have undoubtedly a stronger temptation to indulge in that cordial and reviving stimulus； than we water…drinkers； sitting in warm and comfortable rooms； can readily imagine。 For certain； our drover could never resist the gentle seduction of the gin…bottle； and being of a free； merry； jovial temperament； one of those persons commonly called good fellows； who like to see others happy in the same way with themselves； he was apt to circulate it at his own expense； to the great improvement of his popularity； and the great detriment of his finances。
All this did vastly well whilst his earnings continued proportionate to his spendings； and the little family at home were comfortably supported by his industry： but when a rheumatic fever came on； one hard winter； and finally settled in his limbs； reducing the most active and hardy man in the parish to the state of a confirmed cripple； then his reckless improvidence stared him in the face； and poor Jack； a thoughtless； but kind creature； and a most affectionate father； looked at his three motherless children with the acute misery of a parent who has brought those whom he loves best in the world to abject destitution。 He found help； where he probably least expected it； in the sense and spirit of his young daughter； a girl of twelve years old。
Hannah was the eldest of the f
